Jewelry component



17, 1935. L. w, ST INGER. 2,024,893

JEWELRY COMPONENT Filed April 6, 1935 v INVENTORL Lazar's J/f/Igf/ATTORNEY-S.

Patented Dec. 17, 1935 PATENT OFFICE JEWELRY COMPONENT Louis W.Stringer, Cranston, R. 1., assignor to Otis Inc., a corporation of RhodeIsland Application April 6, 1935, Serial No. 15,064

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for the building up ofan article out of individual pieces assembled on a backing or base plateand aims to provide means whereby one or more 5 of these individualpieces having means of identification, such as initials, orornamentation, may be assembled as desired on a substantial metal plateand be securely held thereon.

An object of the invention also is to provide means for securing partsto a metal plate without the use of tools so that there is no danger oftheir becoming loose in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal backing orfoundation plate of such a character that other parts may be readily andsecurely attached thereto. 1

A further object of the invention is the snap action mounting of unitsin contiguous relation.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my completed jewelry component which maybe attached to an article of jewelry, such as a belt buckle;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame forming a part of the articleshown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the metal foundation plate made inaccordance with my invention;

Fig. 4 is a top view in perspective of one of the letter piecesappearing in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view in perspective of the letter piece appearing inFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

It is often desired to apply initials, monograms, or other means ofidentification or means of ornamentation to belt buckles, bracelets, orother articles of jewelry, by the retailer at the time of purchase by acustomer; but difficulty has been experienced in providing a meanswhereby such articles may be built up of preformed parts without the useof tools to provide an organization which runs no danger of the partsbecoming loose in use. I have provided a means by which relatively smallpieces of plates having individual characters such as letters or partsof an ornamental design may be securely assembled on a substantialbacking or foundation plate by a mere snap action of the resilientparts, without the use of tools so that the article is of permanentcharacter; and the following is a detailed description of the presentembodimtqt Qt this invention, illustrating the preferred means by whichthese advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawing, l designates in general a completedjewelry component composed of a frame l2 shown as having a back portionIt. and a rim i6 projecting from said back portion to form a flangesurrounding a recess 18. The parts in accordance with my invention areassembled in such recess and comprise a foundation or base plate 26 onwhich are assembled and mounted one or more relatively small pieces 22,22 having initials or ornamentation thereon.

It is desired that these parts 22 shall be securely held on the plate soas not to become dislodged when in use, and I provide for this purpose 1a snap securing means comprising resilient strips 24, 24 which areintegral portions of the plate 2!! partially surrounding the apertures26, 26 in such plate. The pieces 22 have cooperating portions of suchsnap means thereon illustrated in the 20 form of headed studs 28 adaptedto be pressed thru the apertures 26 to spring the strips 24 apart sothat the enlarged heads of the studs pass beyond the strips 24 andpermit such strips to spring back into place to thus resist removal ofthe pieces 5 22 from the plate 26. Preferably, the heads of the studs 28are formed with abrupt shoulders 36 parallel to the bottoms of the parts22 and the plate 20 so that when the strips 24 are once snapped intoplace back of such shoulders, it is 30 impossible to remove the studs 28thru the apertures 26 without tearing off the strips 24. How ever, I donot limit myself in all cases to the use of shouldered heads.

As is best shown in Fig. 3, the apertures 26 in plate 20 have enlargedcentral portions of rounded form for the reception of the studs 28, eachaperture 26 having, however, two extensions 32, 32 running in oppositedirections from the center of the aperture and giving the same asomewhat double keyhole shape. The extensions 32, however, arepreferably widened somewhat in the direction away from the centralportion of the aperture. The strips 24 extend along the sides of theapertures 26, one on each side of each aperture throughout most of theperimeter of each aperture and are integral with the body of the plate20 at their ends adjacent the broader portions of the extensions 32.

The strips 24 are of approximately uniform width and are separated fromthe plate 20 except at their ends by slots 34 parallel to the apertures26. Due to the alterations in sizes in the apertures 26 previouslymentioned, the strips 24 are not straight, having curves and anglestherein so that they may be thicker and heavier than other wise would bethe case to produce a given degree of resiliency. The strips 24therefore can resist material stresses without breaking or releasing thestuds 28.

As is clear from Fig. 6, the outer ends of the studs 28 are larger thanthe central portions of the apertures 26 so that when such studs areforced thru the apertures the parts 22 are securely fixed to the plate20.

The plate such as having one or more parts 22 thereon may be used forvarious purposes without being associated with any other or furthermembers. I prefer, however, to assemble such a plate with its attachedparts in a frame, such as l2 which can be of silver, can be plated, orotherwise ornamented. In such case the plate 20 is preferably secured inthe frame l2 in the recess I8 thereof, either before or after the parts22 are assembled. If, however, soldering is used for securing, theletters will be assembled after the plate. is positioned in the frame toavoid discoloration due to heat. The plate portion l4, when'used, of theframe 12 should have apertures or recesses 36, 36 therein to receivethe, ends of the studs 28.

The units 22 are so selected as to size that a given number, here shownas three, completely fillsthe recess or space 18 within the rim I6 andthese units are of a thickness so that the three backgrounds will beflush with the rim and present a smooth surface above which the lettersonly project.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards'the constructionillustrated, but I desire it to'be understood that I reserve theprivilege of resorting to all themechanical changes to which the'deviceis susceptible, the invention being defined andlimited only by the termsof. the appended claims.

I claim: I

l. A jewelry component having a plateprovided with apertures and havingslots adjacent but paralleling the borders of said apertures formaterial portions of their perimeters to provide strips adapted to besprung to admit headed members to said apertures and to resisttheremoval of said members therefrom.

2. A jewelry component having a plate provided with apertures, saidapertures having relatively large central portions and narrowerextensions leading from oppositev sides thereof, said plate having slotsadjacent but paralleling the bordersof said apertures for the principalportions of their perimeters to provide strips adapted to besprung toadmit headedmembers to said apertures.

3. A jewelry component having a plate provided with apertures, saidapertures having relatively large central portions and narrowerextensions leading from opposite sides thereof, said extensionsincreasing in width farther from said 5 central portions, said platehaving slots adjacent to but paralleling the borders of said aperturesfor the principal portions of their perimeters to provide strips adaptedto be sprung to admit headed members to said. apertures and to resist 10their removal therefrom.

4. A jewelry component comprising in combination a plate provided withapertures having relatively large central portions and extensionsleading from opposite. sides thereof, said extenl5 sions wideningfarther from said central portions, said plate having slots adjacent butparalleling the borders of said apertures for the major portions oftheir perimeters to provide strips adapted to be sprung, pieces mountedon said plate and so having headed members adaptedv to be forced intosaid. apertures; and. to spring; said strips" in entering the same, theheads on. said members having abrupt shoulders adapted to lock undersaid strips-to prevent removal of such-piecesfrom 1.2) said plate.

5. The combination: of aframe: member anda plate mounted thereon,.saidplateprovidedwith apertures and having slotsadjacent but paralleling theborders of said apertures forthe principal portions of theirxperimetersto'provide strips adapted to be sprung to admit headed members to saidapertures, and additional pieces having heads thereon and'locked: tosaid platesby engagement of said heads; under said: strips.

6. The combination of aframehavingarraised portion extending'arounditsperimeter to form a recess having abottom wall, a. plate secured in;said recess'on said bottom wall, and jewelry components contacting saidplate: and fastened 40 to said plate bysnap joints;xsaid: plate andsaidcomponentssubstantially filling said recess.

7. The combination set. forthv in claim 6" in which the jewelrycomponents. have portions raised above. the edge of the recess'in: theframe.

8. The combination of aframehaving-a raised portion extendingaroundsitsperimeter-to form a recess with a. bottom wall,,aplate;secured in said recess on said bottom wall, and" jewelrycomponents contactingsaid' plate' and: fastened to said plate by snapjoints, said plate and saidcomponents substantiallyfilling saidrecess',.said bottom wall having apertures: therein for receivingportions'of said. snap joints. 7

LOUIS W. S'I'RINGER.

